SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Students at South Brunswick High School on Wednesday learned about the differences and similarities in police work here and abroad during a lecture by Chief Inspector Dave Annets of the United Kingdom.

Annets' visit was hosted by the South Brunswick Police Department in conjunction with the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police and the South Brunswick School District.

Annets, a 30-year veteran of police forces in England and instructor at the College of Policing and The European Police College, has worked in investigations, patrol and tactical counter-terrorism.

He talked about the challenges of policing in England during his tenure, dealing with everything from riots to terrorism. He highlighted challenges his police agency faced from stop-and-frisk encounters to protests over poor police work.

He said the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S. forever changed the work he does.

“Prior to Sept. 11, we were mainly focused on threats from Northern Ireland, but after the attacks in New York City, we had to shift our priorities,” he said.

As to the most stressful situation he has faced, Annets said he once was tracking a terrorist group and had to decide exactly when to make the arrests.

“In police work, we have to be correct 100 percent of the time. Knowing that if you make a wrong decision and act too soon someone may get away, and if you wait too long someone will get hurt,” he said.

He said strong police community relations is key to warding off problems.

“Many of the problems facing American policing today have already been experienced in England. Riots took place over negative police interactions because we failed to engage and communicate with the community. We realized it was crucial to have public support in order to be successful,” he added.

One student asking about policing without a gun. Annets explained that while American police carry a weapon, most will go their entire career without firing it.

“It is not much different in England or America, most police officers use their speech to diffuse or resolve situations,” he said.

“Our hope was to expose the students to a different perspective that they would not otherwise have," said South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka, adding that students were able to have a global learning experience from their own classroom.

South Brunswick School District School Superintendent Jerry Jellig thanked the South Brunswick Police Department for offering students and staff a cultural learning opportunity.